S/20062. Private David Scott Coventry
“A” Company, 12th. (Service) Battalion, Princess Louise’s (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders), British Expeditionary Force Salonika. Born 1889 in Wemyss, Fifeshire. A Miner by Trade and married. Lived in Dysart, Fifeshire. Enlisted in Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire on 4th. November 1914, as T/3/023454. Driver, Army Service Corps. David was 5’ 3” tall with gray eyes, auburn hair and fresh complexion.
Home 4.11.1914 to 7-3-15 124 days
B.E. Force 8.3.1915 to 19.9.18 3 years 196 days
Embarked SS. “Boonah”. Alexandria 18/10/15.
Disembarked Salonica 26/10/15.
To Reserve Park Salonica 26/10/15.
22.4.17 O.C. 270 Coy 14 days I.P. No 2
I. Absent from about 2.0. pm till apprehended by M.P.’s about 3.20 pm.
II. Stating a falsehood to the M.P.
III. Being in possession of a comrades pass & pay book. 16.4.17.
File 2398. Compulsorily transferred from the A.S.C. to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders under A.O.204/1916 as a Private at ratios of pay in accordance with para. 2 of A.C.I. 2084/1916, and posted to the 12th Batt’ln. 13/4/18.
O.C. Battln joined 12th Battalion In the Field
Missing In the Field 19 SEP 1918
o/c A.A.G. Death now accepted as having occurred on or since 19.9.18.
Officer’s Infantry Records 3rd Echelon
Army of the Black Sea
Letter from David’s wife
Dysart
March 31st 1918
Sir,
Can you kindly oblige me with the whereabouts of Driver D.S. Coventry. 023454 now nearly since four weeks . . .
Yours truly
M. Coventry
“K” Section
Officer i/c A.S.C. Section,
A.A.G.’s Office,
3rd Echelon. Salonika Army,
SALONIKA
T3/023454 COVENTRY, David Scott.
The duplicate Attestation of the above-named man is forwarded herewith, for favour of re-signature of soldier in the presence of a witness. My records shew that that this man is serving in the 29th Reserve Park, Salonika.
Will you kindly return on completion.
Woolwich Dockyard.
16.2.17.
Lieut. Q.M.
for Colonel i/c A.S.C. Records.
Killed in Action during the fierce fighting against Bulgarian troops, led by German Officers in Salonika during The Battle of Dorian, on Thursday 19th. September 1918, aged 29. Lost Without Trace. No Known Grave. Known unto God. Commemorated on The Dorian Memorial to The Missing, Greece. Son of John and Christina Scott Coventry of West Wemyss, Fifeshire. Husband of Mary J. M. Passby Coventry of 12 Watt Street, Dysart, Fifeshire. David was entitled to 1914-15 Star, British War medal and Victory Medal. A staggering total of 70 of David’s Comrades from the Battalion were also Killed in Action on this day, including:
6975. Company Sergeant Major William Dick D.C.M.
S/1563. Sergeant Charles Haywood D.C.M.
8271. Corporal Alexander McLelland M.M.
together with the following 2 Officers, both of whom were Killed in Action:
Lieutenant-Colonel Ronald Dundas Falconar-Stewart
Lieutenant Bruce Hutchinson Campbell
SECRET REPORT ON OPERATIONS COURONNE SECTOR
19TH SEPTEMBER 1918.
0315. Hours. The Battalion left W. Camp and marched via DOLDZELI AVENUE and GUNTON Ravine to the position of assembly on the S.W. slope of SUGAR LOAF. Progress along DOL AVENUE was much ******ed by the presence of a Battalion of ZOUAVRES who were lying huddled together along the foot way and literally had to be walked over. Gas was encountered in JACKSONS, and VLADAJA Ravines but the high ground was quite clear. This gas smelt like hydro-cloric acid and caused violent fits of coughing and sickness and affected the eyes, but appeared to have no serious after effect.
0445. The assaulting waves were in position and ten minutes later were joined by Battalion Headquarters and the Reserve Company. During this time the enemy maintained a steady barrage on SUGAR LOAF and on JACKSONS, VLADAJA and YORK Ravines.
0515.Our barrage descended on the enemy work on SUGAR LOAF and the assaulting waves moved up to within 30 yards of the wire.
0522. As the barrage lifted the leading waves pressed forward through the gaps at X 39, and passed over the trench without encountering any opposition, and as they continued to shell it heavily it was apparent that the enemy had previously evacuated the work leaving only a few bombers in a dugout near YORK Ravine (X 36) who emerged and threw a few bombs after our assaulting waves had passed. These were quickly dealt with by our moppers up. Two enemy machine guns in position in a concealed emplacement at Point 12310/18485 opened a traversing fire along our line, as the assaulting waves approached The TONGUE and this accompanied by a T.M. barrage severely depleted our ranks and caused the attack to waver. Captain J. Harvey-Loutit and the other officers who accompanied the assaulting waves seeing what was about to happen, quickly rallied the men and led them forward, but again owing to casualties they were forced to withdraw. By this time the line was re-inforced by the support and Reserve Companies and a determined charge gained the work and pressed on leaving the moppers up to deal with the machine gun teams and what remained of the Garrison. But again they were met by a heavy M.G. and Rifle Grenade barrage this time from the direction of the WARREN. Three times an attempt was made to push forward to the final objective but these were thrown back and as both Officers and men were much exhausted from the effects of the gas and fatigue Lieut. Col. Falconar-Stewart ordered a withdrawal to The TONGUE to re-organise.
0550. About this time the 8th R.S.F. and some platoons of the 11th S.R. came up on our right flank and assisted in repelling an enemy counter-attack delivered under cover of a heavy Machine Gun, T.M. and Rifle Grenade barrage. Officers were then sent out to establish liaison with the Greek and French troops attacking on our flanks but with the exception of some figures which could be seen through the smoke on the TASSEL and on the P. RIDGE nothing was seen of them on our immediate flanks which appeared to be unprotected and exposed to harassing attacks made by enemy bombing squads wearing Greek steel helmets. It was therefore decided to await further orders and meantime make the position as strong as possible. Accordingly the Garrison was re-organised into Machine Gun groups and strong points established and the remainder of the men were ordered to take shelter in the dug outs and in the support and communication trenches, and information was sent back by Runner stating that this had been done and asking for supplies of ammunition Bombs etc., which were urgently needed.
0730 hours. A contact aeroplane appeared over the line and Green flares were lit along the front of the position. No acknowledging Signal was heard. Calls for Artillery barrage by Very Light Signal were equally unsuccessful as there was still no communication with the rear, an Officer was sent back to report the situation and to bring up ammunition and Bombs. During the next hour the situation remained unchanged until about 0900 hours when the enemy commenced a steady bombardment of the position.
0900. Visual communication was now established and a message was received at 0915 hours stating that a Battalion of 65th. Brigade was moving forward to assist the French and afterwards would support our Left flank and ordering the Battalion in conjunction with them and the 8th R.S.F. on our Right to push forward to the T. Line. 15 minutes before receiving this message the Battalion of 65th Brigade had been seen to withdraw to JACKSONS Ravine via CORNE DU BOIS.
0915. The enemy fire now developed considerably and seemed to concentrate on THE TONGUE and it was apparent that the attacks on our flanks had been unsuccessful, Colonel Falconar-Stewart ordered a withdrawal in small parties, the Battalions to go in the following order 11th S.R. 8th R.S.F. and 12th A.& S.H. each taking with it, its wounded and equipment. As the first party prepared to move off the enemy fire increased. Machine Guns opened fire from the front and both flanks and the Artillery concentration increased almost to drum fire. By this time the ammunition party had reached SUGAR LOAF and were caught in this fire and 12 of the mules were killed outright. Some details of the S.R. were ordered to manhandle the ammunition forward of this point and proceeded to do so.
0930 hours. As the Battalion prepared to evacuate, strong parties of the enemy emerged from the WARREN and under cover of smoke endeavoured to cut off the withdrawal. So dense was the smoke and dust that these parties who appeared to be led by Germans, were in amongst our men before they were aware of the attack and many including the Commanding Officer were surprised and made prisoners. 2 men who subsequently escaped state that the party to which they belonged after being disarmed by the enemy were shot in cold blood by the Bulgarian soldiers and it was only the intervention of an Officer which saved the from a similar fate. Lieut. Col. Falconar-Stewart and another Officer (probably Lieut. MacIntosh) and some of the orderlies were in a dugout when the enemy approached.
NOTES. (1) CASUALTIES Killed 12 Other Ranks,
Missing 4 Officers and 148 Other Ranks.
Wounded 12 Officers and 125 Other Ranks.
Sick (in action - gas) 12 Other Ranks.
Total 16 Officers and 295 Other Ranks.
Number who went into action - 17 officers
and 504 Other Ranks.
Barry Jenkins